Lamp shade with a fabric cover



July 26, 1932. H. BRUCKMANN LAMP SHADE WITH A FABRIC COVER Filed May 16. 1931 Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES HEINRICH BRUCKMANN, OF ESSEN, GERMANY LAMP SHADE WITH A FABRIC COVER Application filed May 16, 1931, Serial No.

The present invention relates to lamp shades provided with a fabric cover on supporting wires, pivots and the like, and has for its object to facilitate the difiicult work '5 of attaching the cover and to simplify the supporting means for the fabric cover with out spoiling the appearance and general aesthetic'eifect of the shade. In order to attain these objects, the invention provides supporting wires shaped and connected with the threads so that where the wires are inclined relative to both directions of the threads, i. e.,

diagonally to the threads, the fabric cover is subjected to tension either by the elasticity of the fabric or supporting wires'or by special means in such a way that the uneven surfaces lying between the supporting wires or pivots are brought into a saddle-shaped form.

In addition to the advantages indicated, the

invention affords the possibility of producing the cover as a whole separately from the supporting wire and of attaching it subsequently to the wires whereby the transportation of the shade is considerably facilitated.

By way of example, several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the relative arrangement of the supporting wires and threads;

Figs. 2 to 4 are detail views of a modification, in which the supporting wiresare constructed essentially as annular rings of a cylinder or cone;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of two difl'ere'nt shades according to this modification;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a shade with helically extending supporting wires;

Figs. 8 and 9' show details of such a shade; L0 and Figs. 10 and 11 are two views of a shade having a conical cover.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 a fabric 1 is shown, the threads 2, 3 of which extend perpendicularly to one another. The fabric is practically inelastic in the direction of the threads-while it may be tensioned in the two diagonal directions indicated by the arrows 4. When the fabric is placed on the two bent O supporting wires 5 and-6 and tensioned in the 537,876, and in Germany May 21, 1930.

direction of the arrows 4, a creaseless saddlelike surface will be produced between the sup porting wires, which varies in depth according to the proportion and relative range of the two tensioning actions, proceeding per- 'pendicularl-y to one another, and to the clasticity of the fabric.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 5 and 6 this effect has been made use of by constructing the supporting rings essentially as 50 annular rings of a cylinder or cone, so that the threads of the fabric cone or cylinder attached to them extend in a line like the line 8 in Fig. 3, i. e. approximately in a helical fashion. To attain this condition, the strip 5 7 forming the fabric cover is preferably, according to Fig. 2, cut out obliquely of a piece of fabric at an angle of about 45 relative to the longitudinal direction of the fabric and the edges 8 are joined to form a seam (Fig. 3) which extends helically in a cylindrical cover. The supporting rings 9 (Fig. 5), which have a somewhat larger diameter than the untensioned fabric cover and over which the closed cover can be brought under tension, may, in addition to being circular as shown,

- have a polygonal, angularly, curved or corrugated form and, as shown in Fig. 6, deviate from the plane of the circular area without causing the formation of creases. If a plurality of such supporting wires 9 is employed, they maybe displaced relative to one another, as Fig. 6 indicates, in order to pro .vide for-variations in form .and to equalize uneven tension in the'cover. As the cover is attached under tension and exerts pressure on the supporting rings, which acts concentrically on all sides, the rings will be kept automatically in form and position, and it is not necessary to connect the fabric with them by sewing as is usual and, for this purpose, to wind band around them which is quite bothersome. The action of the tensional pressure described makes it possible to employ very weak spring steel wire as support in lieu of galvanized iron wire which has been used till now. In this modification, the supporting rings need not be interconnected, as the weight of the shade sufiices to produce the necessary tensional 4 ill force in the direction of the cylinder-axis if the depth of the saddle-like surfaces is kept correspondingly small. The usual wire frame, which requires much time and labor to produce it, is replaced by thin wire rings which are independent of one another, while the added advantage is obtained that the entire lamp shade can be folded fiat whereby packing and shipping are facilitated to a considerable extent.

If the saddle-like surfaces are to be made deeper, the difference between the diameters of the supporting rings 9 and the cover to be attached must be correspondingly greater and artificial tension in the direction of the axis of the shade provided for. As shown in Fig. 5, artificial tension may be imparted, for instance, by means of a plain or forked rod 10 spreading both ends of the shade.

The shade may be ornamented in the usual style with trimmings and cords arranged so as to conceal the seam 8 (Fig. 3). It is further possible to compose the cover 7 of several pieces of fabric in such a way that symmetrically extending seams 8 ans produced, and it is not absolutely necessary to use the edges 8 (Fig. 2) for forming the seam.

The modification according to Fig. 5 indicates clearly the improved packing and ship ping possibilities, as the relatively large shadecan be folded to form a fiat disc.

The main principle of the invention as explained in connection with Fig. 1 is embodied also in the modification shown in Fig. 7, in which the wires 11 bent in the manner of .a single or multiplethread screw serve as supporting wires to which a cylin drical fabric cover 12 is attached, the

' threads of which extend in the direction of the diameter of the helix to the length and diameter of the cover. In order to fold such a shade, the ends of the helical supporting wires 11 are made of spring steel wire and, to be attached under 'pressure, can be inserted in corresponding holes or eyes of the closing rings 13 or in the small'tubes 14 (Figs. 8, 9) arranged in the rings 13 which rings are preferably not circular in shape but have a form adapted to the cross section of the saddle-like surfaces.

In the helical arrangement (Fig. 7), the strips forming the fabric cover are cut out in aeaeea the direction of the threads, so that the seam 15 (Fig. 7) is directed vertically. The cover may consist also of several pieces of fabric so as to disclose several symmetrically distributed seams. To conceal the seam or scams, correspondihg trimmings may be chosen or several of the helical tubes are combined into a single lamp body to render the seams invisible.

The application of the invention is not restricted to the hanging-lamp forms shown. The invention may equally well be used in connection with any other form of lamp, particularly pedestal lamps open on top or small standard lamps.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the fabric cover is supported by a central pivot 16, such as, for example, the holder for the electric bulb, and by a circular ring 13. If a piece of fabric is placed over the annular ring 13 (Fig. 11) 'andsubjected to uni form tension in all radial directions, it will expand more in the directions that are inclined relative to the threads than in the directions of the threads themselves, and show approximately the form indicated by the line 17 in Fig. 11. If the piece of fabric thus deformed be trimmed in accordance with the annular ring 13, it will have the form indicated by th line 18 when tension has completely ceased. Furthermore, if the fabric,

without varying its line of limitation, be secured to a ring of somewhat smaller diameter than the ring 13 and loaded in the direction of the axis of the ring, a' smooth, conical, slightly concave and creaseless surface of rotation (Fig. 10) will be produced.

Thissurface represents already alamp shade of pleasing form, but may serve also as upper or lower closure forthe shades shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, or two of these conical surfaces may be put together and combined into a shade. The tension to be exerted in the direction of the axis of the ring 13 (Fig. 10) is caused by the weight of the ring 13 or by other shade parts connected to it. There are no special tension rods or the like required to produce the necessary tension diagonally to the threads, and a shade according to this modification may also be'folded flat for transportation.

If the shade is open below, as in Fig. 10, it is advisable to line its inside. For this purpose, the tubular fabric cover in the modification according to 5 is made correspondingly longer and turned back inside over the closing ring 13 (Figs. 8 and 9). In the modification shown in Fig. 11, two superposed pieces of fabric having the same size and being shaped along the line 18 are sewn together at their extreme lines of, limitation whereupon the closing ring 13 adapted to be opened by a corresponding connection 19 (Fig. 4) is inserted through a suitable opening between the two pieces of fabric joined by sewing. In

' crosswise to one another, supporting wires tion both cases the inner'coveri ;will closely and creaselessly hug the outer cover, provided the fabric has been tensionedin the manner indicated.

The invention may be embodied in other forms of lamps and wire arrangements than in the ones shown, and creaseless saddle-like surfaces may be produced, for instance, by placing a square piece of fabric over two bent Wires forming a cross and securing the ends of the fabric under tension to the wires- What is claimed, is:

1. In a lamp shade of the type described a fabric cover comprising threads extend-- ing crosswise to one another, bnt supporting wires holding the fabric in position and being inclined relative to, the threads, and means adapted to subject thefabric' to tension in the direction of the supporting wires and also perpendicular thereto.

2. In a lamp shade of the'type described a fabric tube comprising threads extending arranged in the tube and inclined relative to the threads of the tube, and means for subjecting the fabric to tension in the direction of the supporting Wires and also perpendicularly thereto.

3. In a lamp shade of the type described a fabric cover comprising an oblique strip cut out from a piece of fabric and sewn together at its edges to form a tube, circular supporting rings having a diameter slightly in excess of that of the fabric. tube and being arranged in the tube, and means adapted to subject the fabric to tension inthe direction of the axis of the tube.

'4. In a lamp shade of the type described I a fabric comprising threads extending cross a fabric tube comprising threads extending crosswise to one another, supporting wires arranged in the tube and inclined relative to the threads of the tube, and an end ring tensioning the fabric in the direction of the axis of the tube by its own weight.

8. In a lamp shade of the type described a piece of fabric with threads extending crosswise to one another, a pivot holding the piece of fabric in the center, an annular supporting wire holding the piece of fabric at its extreme lines of llmitation, the said piece of fabric being in untensioned condition differentially shortened in the radial directions disposed diagonally to the threads, and means for exerting tension on the fabric between the pivot and supporting wirein a direction extending vertically to the plane wise to one another, supporting wires inclinedrelative to the threads and made of thin spring steel wire, the said. supporting wires being kept in theirform and posiby concentrically acting tensional force of the fabric. p p

5. In a lamp shade of the type described a fabric cover comprising threads extending crosswise to one another, bent supporting:

wires holding the fabric and inclined relative to the threads, means adapted to subiect the fabric to tension in the direction of the sup porting. wires and also perpendicularly thereto, and asecond fabric cover equally tensioned and equal to the first one in form and size and covering the inner surface of the first cover. 9

6. In a lamp shade of the type described a fabric tube comprising threads extendings crosswise to one another, supporting wires arranged in the tube and inclined relative to the threads of thetube, means for subjecting the fabric to tension in the direction of the supporting wires and also-perpendicularl thereto, and an end rin over which the abric tube is turned bac inside, the V 

